transitional hand plane

I saw an article in wood magazine about using the frog of a transitional hand plane and making your own. I really liked this idea, and I wanted to try a plane that had a horn and a traditional handle in the back. I happened to come across and old rotted out, rusted out plane in an atique shop so I picked it up for $8. I do have a rather large hand so the rear tote is much bigger than the tote that came with the original. It has Oak for the sole, bradford pear for the wings, sycamore for the totes, and a mistery wood for the infill. I wasn’t expecting much from this plane as it is really only my first try at building a plane, but it has become one of my favorites. It does a really nice job on tough areas that my other planes tend to tear out.

Nice plane , I have a question ,did you have a hard time with the Bradford Pear wood? I have some and it has very straight grain but it is hard as a rock. I have some old seasoned oak that is soft compared to the pear wood.

Nice plane , I have a question ,did you have a hard time with the Bradford Pear wood? I have some and it has very straight grain but it is hard as a rock. I have some old seasoned oak that is soft compared to the pear wood.

- oltexasboy1

I’ve found it is really hard, and it is horrible to split and prone to tear out. but if you have the patients for it, it is really nice to work with. it has a very nice smell when cut. I have found that it dries kind of a peachy orange colour. but if you let it dry and then plane it down it stays lighter, almost white. I built a couple of things out of it and I really didn’t like it at first, but I’m starting to like it more and more.

I LOVE transitional planes, and this is so much prettier and more elegant than the standard Stanley beech block sole. I may have to borrow some ideas from it when I get around to building my transitional jointer.

I LOVE transitional planes, and this is so much prettier and more elegant than the standard Stanley beech block sole. I may have to borrow some ideas from it when I get around to building my transitional jointer.